Teacher-Modeled Empathy Self-

Reflection Guide:
Created by: Educators from the Ashoka Changemaker Schools Network

Data Collection:
Select a student. Record how many positive interactions and how many negative
interactions you have with that student. Positive interactions include observations (I
notice you practiced multiplication problems in your free time), and negative interactions
include commands (put the toy in your backpack) and corrections (we keep our hands to
ourselves at school).

Positive Interactions Negative Interactions

Student Interaction Questions:

1. What is the most significant positive interaction that you had with this
student today? What did you notice about the student’s response?
What was his/her body language like? What did he/she say?
2. How did this interaction demonstrate that you understand what it is
like to be in that student’s shoes?
3. What is one negative interaction that you had with the student today
that really stands out for you?
4. Why did you interact with the student?
5. What unmet need do you think caused the student to behave in this
way?
6. What was your body language during the interaction?
7. What words did you say during the interaction?
8. How would you describe your tone during the interaction?
 9. Is there anything you could have done to put yourself in the student’s
shoes and respond in a way that shows you understand his/her
feelings?
10.What will you do differently in a future similar interaction?

General Empathy Questions:

1. How did your tone of voice change throughout the school day?
2. How did you respond to student emotions today? Is there a particular
response you are very proud of? That you would like to change? What
have you learned from that?
3. When was it easiest to model empathy for students today? When was
it hardest?
4. When did you model understanding others’ perspectives and acting
with kindness today?
5. Are there any times today that you feel you forgot to consider a
student’s perspective? What happened as a result?
6. What will you do to help yourself remember the student’s perspective
and act in a way that shows you understand?